Improvement in grain-separators



a. H. BROOKBA'N'K.

Grain-Separator- N01. 221,026. Patented oct. 28, 1879.

N4FETERS PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BROOKBANK, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT. IN GRAlN-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,026, dated October28, 1879; application filed March 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLEs H. BROOK- BANK,ofOonnersville, Fayettecounty, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement inGrain-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention comprises means for deflecting the thrashed material upwardfrom the beating-cylinder, so as to permit the grain to separatepromptly from the straw, and to thereby utilize that part of the carriernear the cylinder which is otherwise liable to become clogged with strawand chaff.

My invention further comprises a peculiarlyconstructed adjustablerake-agitator.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly sectioned frontelevation of a grainseparator embodying niy'improvements. Fig. 2 is aplan of the same, a portion of the roofing being removed. Fig. 3 shows aportion of the adjustable agitating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a top view ofmy ascending chute.

A A may represent the sides of a suitable inclosing frame of agrain-separator. B may represent any customary or suitablethrashingcylinder. The cylinder-shaft 0 extends through one side-of themachine, for the reception of a driving-pulley, D. i

Journaled in and extending through both sides of the machine, parallelto but nearer the front than the cylinder-shaft, and below thefeed-hopper E, is a counter-shaft, F, in adjustable bearings, one end ofwhich shaft carries, in alignment with the pulley D, a

flanged pulley, G, of much larger diameter. The pulleys D and G are'driven in opposite directions, at the same peripheral velocity,-by themain driving-belt H, which, being led over the top of pulley G, isbrought around pulley D, and returned over itself. This arrangementcauses the belt to infold very closely at large part of thecircumference of pulley 1), thus securing against slip and lost motionon this important and necessarily swiftly-revolving member. It alsocauses the belt to hug the upper part of the flanged pulleys peripherywith sufficient tract-ive force to rotate it in the reverse direction topulley D.

The other end of the counter-shaft carries a small pulley, I, which(being belted, J, to a large pulley, K, on shaft L of thedrivingsprockets M of endless chains N of the straw carrier 0) operatesto impart to said carrier the slow rearward and upward delivery required for the performance of its duties.

A shaft, L, journaled below and in rear of the cylinder, carriessprockets or pulleys M, around which the receiving or lower bight of thecarrieris stretched.

' Immediately in rear of a customary or any suitable concave isjournaled a shaft, P, from which project fingers Q, which, curvingobliquely rearward and upward in rear of the cylinder, serve to directthe thrashed material toward the roof R, and thus to enable the grain tofall upon the front portion of the carrierbefore the straw can reach it,and by this means initiate the separating actionat the earliestpracticable moment. One end of shaft P, projecting outside the frame,has an arm, S, to which is secured a spring, T, whose lower end, beingsecured to one or other of a series of holes, t, in the frame, gives agreater or less tensionto the spring. A stop, 8, capable of beinginserted in one or other of a series of holes, 8, enables the attendantto set the deflector at any desired angle relatively to the.

thrashing-cylinder.

The endless chains N are composed of two series of connected open linksadapted to engage positively witht'heir propelling pulleys, and tofreely pass whatever grain alights upon them. These chains have a seriesof lugs, U, perforated to receive the pivots o of heads or bars V, fromwhose front sides project fingers W, whose length is such as to enablethe fingers of each rake or series to rest upon the head of that next infront of it, and Whose distance apart is just sufficient to support thestraw while permitting the grain to drop through the interstices of thecarrier. Tracks X secured in the proper oblique position within the caseA serve to support the upper and effective portion of the carrier.

A series of rock-shafts, Y, journaled in each side of and extendingathwart the case are armed at each extremity with tappets y, and withcranks'y, which latter occupy orifices in a bar, Z, which serves tocouple said rockshafts to one another, and to compel simultaneousmotion. One of said rock-shafts, terminating with a square arbor, 1,outside of the case, carries an arm, 2, pivoted at 3 to a notched bar,4, that occupies a staple, 5, that projects from the case side. Byshifting the notched bar 4, the tappets are made to assume a positionwhich approaches or recedes from an erect one. Projections or heels 6,from each end of the rake-heads, striking the more or less erectedtappets y as the carrier travels rearward, cause the rakes to be 1110-inentarily jerked up, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, with the effectof scattering and loosening the straw and chaff, and of permitting thedescent of the imprisoned grain.

Chutes 7 S extend athwart the casing and beneath the carrier, to catchgrain falling therefrom. Pulleys 9 10, on shafts 11 12, carry bands 13,the cross-bars 14 on which scrape the droppings up the surface of chute7 and down the surface of chute S. 1G 17 represent, respectively,orifices and indentations in chute 7, to allow grain to drop throughclear of ehati'. 1S and 19 indicate the locations of the customary fanand riddle, respectively. 20 repre- 21 22 represent adjustment by meansof rods Z 4, arms 3/ 2,

and rack 5, substantially as set forth.

2. The rip-directed and yielding deflector Q, pivoted in rear of theconcave, and provided with spring '1. and adjusting mechanism 8 t,substantially as and for the purpose indicated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set n'1y.hand.

CHARLES H. BROOKBANK.

Attest:

Gno. H. KNIGHT, L. H. BOND.

